Jones brought her 14-year-old son, Dallas, along with her to give him a crash course in election-day politics.

“We’ve already voted way over our all-day total,” Tobi Jones said, referring to the 175 to 180 voters who had already come through her precinct. “There was a line to the end of the building at 6 o’clock this morning. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a line at 6 o’clock tonight, when we’re done.”

Voters got out early in Ward 2, hitting the polling places on the way to work. After steady voting during the day, the crowds returned after 4 p.m., the time most Anderson and Madison County employees are done for the day.

Jones came prepared to work beyond the hour when the polls normally close; she has worked Precinct 9 of Ward 2 in years past and knows that anyone standing in line at 6 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot. Tom Harmon, seated across the table but in a different precinct (Precinct 7 of Ward 6), was here for the first time, but seemed to be keeping up with the flow of voters.

“It’s been strong,” he said. “We’ve had 130 or 140 come through.”

The polling room inside the church was surprisingly small, with folding tables forming an island in the middle and voting machines lining the back wall.

Dallas, meanwhile, was helping keep the tally of voters. Still four years away from his first presidential election as an adult, he’s more engaged than many longtime voters.

Walnut Street Park, Stanton Park. Main Street Pay Less, the 29th Street business corridor. It’s all Ward 2.

The hard-working couples, the family insurance agencies and the neighborhood coin-operated laundry might not command the attention of Washington, but the people of Ward 2 can make or break an election.